warhus



Nov. 16,1926. 1,607,374

0. WARHUS PROPELLING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES F'iled Sept. 26 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Vi INVENTOR BY z, 4.,

' ATTORNEYS Nov. 16, 1926. 1,667,374 0. F. WARHUS PROPELLING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES Filed Sept. 26, 1925 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .2 .3. FJ v 7 z 3. 28 Q :3 24 /6 6 (5)" 19 2a Z2 2/ 'WM1-,,%Z 2

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. l6, ieae.

GLIVER 3E. XVAlt-IZUS, Q ALBANY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOE TO VEBSARE CORPORATION, A CORPORATEON OF NEW YGB K.

I- BOPELLI NG MECHANISM FOB VEHICLES.

Application filed September This invention relates. to propelling mech anism for motonvehicles and more particularly to improvements in the mounting of the motor and in the construction of the propeller shaft and its housing.

The improved propelling mechanism is of that general type in which the axis of rotation of the driving motor is arranged at right angles to the axis of the driven wheels and in which the power is transmitted from the motor to the driving axle through a longitudinal propeller shaft.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide improved propelling mechanism of the above mentioned type in which all of the driving parts from the motor to the driving axle are relieved of all stresses and ains which would otherwise result from the vertical vibration of the rear axle as the wheels pass over irregularities in the road surface; to make it possible to utilize only one universal joint in the propeller shaft and to relieve this joint of all stresses and strains of the character above mentioned; to reduce the unsprung weight of the parts to a minimum; and to provide a simplified and high ly efficient propelling mechanism which is d in construction and welladapted to and heavy duty. The invention is illustrated in the accomshying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side ation partly insection, of a vehicle bogie the improved propelling mechanism 1 thereto;

. 2 is a plan viewof the bogie shown in 3 is a side elevation, partly in section of the bogie shown in Fig. 1, the parts being own in the position which they assume e driven wheels are passing over an ii or irregularity in the roadway;

is a longitu inal section through eller shaft and its housing, the parts the same position as shown in Fig.

is a vertical transverse section taken fine 5-0 of Fig. 4t, 7

mproved' propelling mechanism is to any motor driven vehicle but Signed especially for use on the eight wheel vehicle having two v s each provided with four wheels. Therefore, th's particular application of the invention has been illustrated in the drawings and will be herein specifically decase of the front bogie.

26, 1825. Serial N0. 58,743.

scribed. In practice, the propelling mechanism is associated with both bogies of the vehicle but as it is the same for both the front and rear bogies its application to only one bogie will be described. The bogie itself may be considered as representative of any vehicle because it constitutes in itself a complete driving unit and so far as the present invention is concerned it is immaterial whether this unit is in fact a bogie, a chassis or a complete vehicle.

The frame of the bogie comprises the longitudinal side members 1 and the transverse members 2, 3, 1 and 5. The two transverse members 3 and a support between them two longitudinal struts 6 and 7, and the latter support between them a bridge 8 with which there is associated a king pin socket9. In Fig. 1 there is diagrammatically represented at 10 the body frame of the vehicle, with which there is associated aching pin 11 which engages in the king pin socket 9. This particular manner of mounting the body frame on tiebogie is immaterial, so far as the pres ent invention is concerned, but is described merely to show one way in which the bogie may be associated with the body.

The bogie frame is provided with a rear dead axle 12 on the endsof which the rear driven wheels 13 are mounted, the power {I being transmitted to the driven wheels 13 through the live axle 14:.

The bogie is also provided with two front wheels 15 which are mounted at the ends of the front axle 16 to swing about substantially vertical axes 17 and 18. In the particular vehicle for which the present bogie was designed the front wheels 15 are steered automatically by the body, in the case of the rear hogic, and are steered manually in the However, as the steering mechanism for the front wheels forms no part of the present invention it has not been completely shown in the draw- The front axle 16 is supported upon the two leafsgrings 19 and the rear axle 12 is supported upon two l af springs 20. The two adjacent ends of the springs 19 and 20 at each side of the bogie are connected through an equa 'zing system comprising the rocker arm 21 and the vertical links 22. Each rocker arm 21 is pivotally supported at the lower end of a bracket 23 rigidly securedto the frame of the bogie.

' in which the rear portion 36 of the propel projecting The source of power in the present in stance is an electric motor 2%. it is suspended immediately below the rectangular space formed by the transverse member 3,

the bridge 8 and the longitudinal struts (5 air 7. The motor is suspended at its center of gravity by a pair of links 25 one of such that the motor is supported substantially at C6l1t1' of gravity;

The rear axle 12 15 provided With an opening to accommodate the propeller shaft and certain parts of its housing. I The rear ver' tical wall ofthe arrle'12 has bolted thereto, ad acent said opening, a differential hous 111g 28 which contains the usual differential gearing connecting the propeller shaft With the driving axle 1 A cup shaped casing 29 is bolted to the front Wall of the dead axle 12 lmmediately ad acent to the opening therein as shown in Fig. 4, this casing being provlded at its edge portion with m- I r I terror threads 29 The cup shaped casing 29 supports a casting .30 which 1s screw l 'l tdlQfiCiOCl at its rear end to engage with the threads on the casing 29.

spherical projection 31 which constitutes a part of a hollow universal joint soon to be described. The casting30 may be locked to the cup shapedcasmg 29, to prevent rotatmg relative thereto by means of a key casting of this will be explained later.

The cup shaped casing 29and the casting 30 completely enclose a bearing housing 35 her shaft may be rotatably mounted inany suitable manner.

The rear end of the motor has rigidly so, cured thereto a castin 3? terminating at its r end in a spherical shaped portion. 38.

i V tion'88 has j 7 there is bolted an inside spherical shaped plate '40 "and a corresponding The. forward endof the casting 30 is provided With a' not I only upwardly but rear i of the spherical shaped por peripheral flange39 to which outside plate ii. The twoplates l0 and it are spaced apart a sufficient distance to form between them a spherical shaped recess which receives the spherical shaped projection 31 on the casting 30. The project-- ing plates l0 and ll may be formed in two or more parts and bolted together shown atifi in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 to facilitate assen'ibling of the parts. The construction justv described permits assembling of the parts into a spherical shaped, hollow universal joint Which is completely enclosed and con stitutes a housing for the universal jointof the propeller shaft. I i

'The universal joint of the propeller shaft comprises one forked member 4a associate t with the rear portion 36 of the propeller shaft, and a second forked member 45 Which is splined to the armature shaft'4l6 of the motor. The forks a l: and 4:5 are intercom nected bythe usual cross blocks 47 having pins 48 pivotally connected with the forks. The power'is transmitted from the armature shaft 46 through the universal joint j ust described to the rear end of propeller shaft. Neither the armature shaft 46 nor the forked member {iii of theuniversal joint any bearing or support in the casting 3 These parts are therefore entirely independ ent of the casting 37 The casting 30 is adjusted in the. cup shaped casing 29 to bring the center of the spherical universal joint'of the housing into coincidence with the center of "the universal oint of the propeller shaft. W hen the cast 'ing 30 is, thus adjusted in the" cup shaped casing 29 the entire housing around the propeller shaft including the casting the spherical universal joint and the c ing 3? is moved asially- This is permitted by the links supporting the motor the ter swinging slightly either forr-rard or backward to aoconunodate the new adjust ment between the casting 30 and the casing 29 V p j The normal position ofthe part V sented in Fig. 1. New assumethav t wheels pass over an elevation or irre ty in the road surface such as that'd inatically represented at 49 in 7 Will move the rear axle upfiardly.

resulting action of the spr'ings a equalizing system, which is also in Fig. 3,

movement taking'place in thearc The differential iousin the caing 29, the 'castingfiO and 1e re portion of the nropeller'sha" all ricdby therear axle 12., W1 J. be wardly to the posi ion shown in 4-, his causes the parts ofthe spherical universal joint in the housing to move to the position shown in Fi is. 3 and 4;

causes the motor to swing about its horir; 28,, together ivi h i Q r ML always maintained regardless ward movement of the axle causes the entire motor to swing bodily to the rear this action being permitted by the links which support the motor. In other words, the axis of the pins 2?, which normally lies almost directly below the axis of the pins 26, will move rearwardly from this position as shown in Fig. 3.

it will be noted that the entire action described above takes lace without imposing any strains or stresses whatsoever upon the universal joint of the propeller shaft or upon the armature shaft of the motor or in fact upon any of the driving parts. Every bit of the force which is necessary to move the parts to the position shown in Figs. 3 and i is transmitted. through the housing surrounding the propeller shaft and therefore no strains are imposed upon the propeller shaft. The propeller shaft and its universal joint merely follow the movements of the external housing the shaft and its universal joint being just as free from any stresses and strains in the position shown in Figs. 3 and l as in their normal position. The external housing with its universal joint takes up all. stresses and strains whether these be stresses of tension or compression, and it also assumes the burdenqof any vertical or transverse load or any bending strain which might otherwise be imparted to the propeller shaft. It might be said, therefore, that the universal joint and the armature shaft really float at all times within the external housing, this being clearly demonstrated by slight clearances 50 provided between the extremities of the transverse block and the corresponding arms of the fork it, which clearances are of the angular position of the parts, thus showing that there is no load imposed by the rear end of the propeller shaft or by he housing upon the forward end of the propeller shaft- A l forces which would otherwise tend to produce compressional or tensional stresses in the propeller shaft, or transverse bending upon it, are transmitted to the swinging motor through the external housing of the propeller shaft and these stresses are all either borne by the external housing or are reduced or entirely eliminated by the special construction of the housing and the way in which the motor is mounted. 7 r

the elevation or obstruction 49 in the roadway be of sufficient height to move the parts to their maximum position, the lower edge of the spherical projection 31 on the casting 30 will engage with the inner end of the spherical recessQ as clearly shown in Fig. i and this will prevent any further movement of the parts. Therefore, even an unusually large obstruction in the roadway will not result in injury to the propeller shaft because the parts of the external housing will move to their maximum an gular relation in which the propeller shaft and its universal joint remain fully relieved.

of any stresses, and if any breakage occurs it will occur in some part of the external. housing which assumes the load. The external housing may be ruggedly constructed and made sufficiently strong to withstand the maximum strains which are likely to be placed upon it in the ordinary course of operation.

When the rear wheels move off of the elevation or obstruction 49 and the rear axle returns to its original position the movement of the parts of the housing and the propeller shaft will be. the opposite of that described above. During this return move ment of the parts of the housing to their original position no strainswill be imposed on the propeller shaft or its universal joint and the universal joint will remain free from any load, strains or stresses both during its movement back to its original position and also after it reaches such position.

It will be noted that when the rear axle vibrates vertically the universaljoint in the propeller shaft and the universal joint in the housing move in an arc of a circle which is convex with respect to the motor. A si uilar movement of the universal joints taxes place in starting stopping and braking because the drive herein disclosed is of the Hotchkiss type and no torque tube or torsion rods are employed, to positively prevent the axle torque from tilting the rear part if the propeller shaft and its housing in such a way as to cause the universal joints to move vertically. I

lit will now be seen that the particular manner of mounting the motor, and the special construction of the propeller shaft and its housing, result in a very simple but ef ficient propelling and transmission mechanism in which the universal oint in the propeller shaft, as well as the propellcr shaft itself are relieved of all stresses which would otherwise be imparted to it by the vertical vibration of the rear axle. The unsprung weight of the parts is reduced to a minimum andthe entire mechanism has been found in practice to be generally satisfactory and efficient, especially where the parts are called upon to perform heavy duty as inrelatively long trackless vehicles of the type mentioned above having several bogies each of which is provided with four or more wheels.

I claim:

1. In propelling mechanism for the driven wheels of vehicles comprising an axle with which said Wheels are associated, a propeller shaft arranged substantially at right angles to the axle, a. motor having a Ell loo

casing and a drive shaft in substantial alignment with the propeller shaft, a universal joint located inthe propeller shaft between the motor drive shaft and the axle, a mounting for the motor permitting bodily axial -movement of the motor and oscillation move bodily about a center located on that side of the universal joints opposite the motor. 7

2. Propelling mechanism for the driven wheels of vehicles comprising an axle with which said wheels are associated, a spring suspension for the wheels causing a. movement of the axle about an axis to the rear of the axle, a propeller shaft arranged sub stantially at right angles to the axle, a motor having a casing and a drive shaft substantial alignment with the pr p ler shaft, a universal joint located in the propeller shaft between the motor drive shaft and the axle, a mounting for the motor per-- mitting bodily axial movement of the motor and osc' laticn thereof about a horizontal axis, a housing for he propeller shaft interposed between the motor cas 11g and the axle, and a universal joint in said housing substantially concentic with the universal joint in said propeller shaft.

Pi'opelling mechanism for the driven wheels of vehicles comprising an axleoperatively connected with said wheels, a motor,- a propeller shaft operatively connecting the motor with the axle and provided with a naive iljoint, a housing forsaid propeller shaft interposed between the motor andthe axle and provided with auniversal joint concentric with the universal joint in the propeller shaft that part of the. housing and t propeller shaft between the axle and the that causes the universal joints to move in an joints being subject to movement are which is convex with respect tothe inotor, and a mounting for the motor permit ting bodily axialniovement of the motor and oscillation thereof about a" horizontal axis, all strains except the driving torque which would be imposedon the universal joint in the propeller shaft by said moven cnt' ofrhe propeller shaft being ininimined by the provision said h a, Propelling mechanism for the driven wheels of vehicles comprising an axle with which said wheels are associated, a propeller shaft, a motor for driving the propeller shaft, a universal joint located in the propeller shaft, a housing enclosing the propeller'shaft and interposed, betwe'enthe' axle and the motor, a universal j ointin said housmg substantially concentric with the univer sal joint in the propeller shaft, means for mountingthe motor to permit bodily axial movement thereof and also oscillation about a horizontal axis, and means for adjusting the effective lengthof said housing to bring the two universal joints into concentric relation. V

. 5. Propelling mechanism for the driven wheels of vehicles, comprising anaxle with which saidwheels are associated, a pro? peller. shaft, a motor for driving the pro peller shaft, a universal joint in said. propeller shaft, housing enclosing the propel shaft, a flexible joint in said housing and ans for adjusting the position of. said il e ible joint to bring it into substantially concentric relation with said universal joint.

6. Propelling mechanism for vehicles comprising an axle, aimotor pivotally' mounted on a movable axis, propeller shaft with a universal joint therein connecting the axle.

and motor, that portion of the propeller shaft between the axle and the universal joint being movable about the axle in a plane perpendicular to said axle, a housing about said propeller shaft with a universal joint therein concentric with the aforesaid univere sal joint. r

.7. ltropelling mechanism for'the driven wheels of vehiclescomprising inassociation with said wheels an axle which is bodily movable about an axis to the rear of said axle, a motor axially movable about points from which it ispivotally suspended, a propeller shaftperpendicular to said axle and in alignment with the motor shaft, a universaljoint in said propeller shaft and ahous inn enclosing the propeller shaft having a shaft. V s r 8. Propelling mechanism for the driven wheels ofvehicles comprising an axleioperativelyconnected with said wheels, a motor, a propeller shaft op'eratively connectingthe motor with the axle and provided with a universal oint, and a housing for said propeller shaft interposed between the motor and the" axle and provided with a universal joint concentric with the universal" oint in the propeller shaft, that part of the housing and the propeller shaft between. the axle and the universal joints being subject to movement that causes the universal oints to movev ersal oint therein substantially concen-j trio with the uinversaljoint in the propeller 1 ice 

